Within the vibrant streets of Brooklyn, Savannah Spiced stands as a culinary treasure deeply rooted within the wealthy traditions of the Caribbean. Led by a Trinidadian and Grenadian native, Savannah Spice is greater than only a restaurant; it’s a love story, a cultural journey, and a celebration of Caribbean heritage that goes past borders.
Natalie Lamming Alexander’s culinary journey started together with her first restaurant, d’Savannah, on Flatbush in Brooklyn. The title “Savannah” was impressed by Queen’s Park Savannah in Trinidad and Tobago, a spot of deep private significance to her. “The Savannah in Trinidad is just like the Central Park of the island…it’s the place folks collect to train, get pleasure from nice meals, and have fun Carnival. Naming my first enterprise after one thing so near my coronary heart was solely pure,” she defined. The restaurant is situated at 158 Utica Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11213.
However Savannah Spice is not only about her story — it’s additionally the story of her Grenadian native husband, Davis Alexander. Once they met, their shared ardour for foods and drinks introduced them collectively, and the thought of mixing their cultures into a novel culinary expertise was born. The title Savannah Spiced superbly displays this fusion, combining her Trinidadian roots together with her husband’s Grenadian heritage —an island famously often called the “Island of Spice.”
At Savannah Spiced, the menu is greater than only a assortment of dishes; it represents the Caribbean, thoughtfully curated to spark dialog and connection. “We needed the menu to be a dialog piece, particularly for these unfamiliar with the Caribbean; every dish is known as after locations and those who maintain particular that means for us, like Karikou Crimson Snapper or Miss Dorothy’s bake and saltfish, named after my grandmother,” she defined.
Natalie’s grandfather, an activist from Barbados who believed in a united Caribbean, impressed her ardour for fostering unity by way of meals. “It’s important to know that it’s not nearly representing particular person islands like Trinidad or Grenada — it’s about representing the Caribbean as an entire,” she says. “After we’re out on this planet, we’re Caribbean folks. This philosophy shapes our menu, inviting clients to get pleasure from a scrumptious meal and go away with a deeper understanding of Caribbean tradition.”
For the Alexander’s, Savannah Spiced is greater than only a enterprise — it’s a lifestyle. With a long time of expertise between them, they’ve seen Brooklyn evolve and face the challenges of being Black enterprise house owners in an ever-changing panorama. But, regardless of the difficulties, they continue to be dedicated to their mission: representing Caribbean tradition authentically and positively. “I at all times felt that Caribbean tradition is typically misrepresented, so I needed to create an area the place folks may expertise the richness of our heritage by way of meals, drink, and the general surroundings…it’s about making folks really feel good and sharing the tales of the Caribbean,” she defined.
Proudly owning a restaurant in Brooklyn, particularly as a Black Caribbean couple, comes with challenges. Gentrification, rising rents, and the impression of COVID-19 have all made it difficult to maintain the doorways open. However the Alexanders are decided to remain the course. “We have to preserve our presence right here… Brooklyn is made up of the Caribbean, and we refuse to be pushed out…I need to be that woman who laughs final and bows out on her phrases,” the businesswoman asserts.
Their resilience is fueled by deep gratitude for each buyer who walks by way of their doorways. “They don’t should assist you — they select to,” Mrs. Alexander added, “so we ensure our clients really feel appreciated, particularly when there are such a lot of challenges within the trade. “
The couple is already planning to move on the legacy of entrepreneurship to their 11-year-old son, Sebastian. Impressed by his love for pizza, they’re opening a Caribbean-themed pizza store for him. “Yearly, I throw these huge birthday events for him, and I spotted that I needed to create one thing extra lasting…so I made a decision to open a Caribbean pizza place the place he can find out about enterprise and tradition and hopefully stick with it all the things we’ve began,” she stated.
The pizza store will supply personalised, Caribbean-inspired pizzas incorporating flavors like saltfish, breadfruit, and oxtail. This artistic enterprise honors their heritage and supplies a platform for educating Sebastian invaluable life classes.
Savannah Spiced is greater than only a restaurant — it’s a beacon of Caribbean tradition within the coronary heart of Brooklyn. It’s a spot the place love, meals, and heritage come collectively to create one thing extraordinary. By means of their arduous work, dedication, and keenness, the Alexanders are constructing a legacy that honors their roots and evokes the subsequent technology. One factor stays clear as they proceed to navigate the trade’s challenges: Savannah Spice is right here to remain, a testomony to the facility of affection, tradition, and group.
